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For survivors of stroke or TBI | strategies for reducing sensory overload in social settings

Constant Therapy | Traumatic brain injury, Stroke

Neighborhood barbecues, block parties, weddings, holidays, and family events these are social settings in which we’re all likely to find ourselves in. For survivors of brain injury (TBI) or stroke, these events can be difficult, uncomfortable, and downright exhausting – filled with something called sensory overload. Here’s what this is.

For almost every survivor of brain injury or stroke, nearly all their energy is needed just to function. When they experience extra background noise, movement, lights, and general chaos typically associated with social situations, it is too much information for the brain to process and organize. Then, sensory overload (also known as cognitive overload or fatigue) occurs and can result in increased anxiety, irritability, or a full-blown meltdown.

When helping your patients and their caregivers develop coping skills for living with stroke or brain injury, consider sharing strategies to minimize stress and cognitive overload in social settings.

Just as each brain injury is different, experience with sensory fatigue varies with every survivor. Here are the most common symptoms of overload, and helpful ways to manage through them.

What is sensory overload?

After a brain injury, some people find their brain’s sensory filters no longer work properly. Unlike a healthy brain, which can identify and filter out irrelevant or unnecessary sensory information, an injured brain often cannot.

Imagine your brain is a gas tank.  Every single thing a survivor does, whether physical or mental, requires more fuel now than before their injury. The more fuel that is used, the more it needs a rest stop.

For survivors, even normal, everyday stimuli can be uncomfortable or unbearable. Sounds that before injury were barely noticeable may be alarming. Crowds can feel overwhelming. Bright light can be distressing or cause headaches.

“Mental Flooding” is a highly descriptive phrase that is sometimes used to describe an overloaded brain in this situation. When a brain is “flooded” it can “freeze,” and then it can be difficult or impossible to continue a conversation or make decisions. Other symptoms include:

  • Agitation/Anxiety
  • Fatigue
  • Panic Attacks
  • Difficulty Breathing
  • Nausea / Vomiting

One survivor of brain injury, Jeff Sebell in his When We Snap After Brain Injury blog, explained sensory overload as “snapping”:

TBI dries out the invisible ‘rubber band’ that helps us adjust to the pressures of daily life, leaving it more brittle…This rubber band we have always relied on to steady us is… more prone to snapping when placed under duress. Since my TBI, when my own rubber band has snapped… it has led to screaming, throwing things, punching walls, slamming doors, stomping away or generally making a spectacle of myself.

What triggers sensory overload?

Sensory overload can be caused even when a sensory experience is something enjoyable. Be on the lookout for and try to avoid triggers like these at the next social gathering:

1. Sound

  • Groups of People Talking or Shouting
  • Loud Music
  • Sounds of Traffic or Sirens

2. Sight

  • Busy; Multi-Colored Displays or Decorations
  • Visiting New Places or Unfamiliar Surroundings
  • Bright or Flashing Lights

3. Taste

  • New and/or Exotic Tastes
  • Strong or Unpleasant Tastes

4. Touch

  • Being Patted or Poked
  • Touching New or Unusual Things, Including Petting an Animal
  • Sitting in a Chair made of an Unique Texture or Material

5. Smell

  • Scents such as Candles or Perfume
  • Cleaning Materials, like Paint or Glues
  • New Smells
  • Strong Food Aromas – Good or Bad

6. Movement

  • Being Bumped or Shoved in Crowds of People
  • Unfamiliar Movements; Rolling, Rocking, Tipping – Such as a Boat

Best strategies for reducing sensory overload in social settings

Consider the following 16 tips and strategies before going to the next social event, so they can help minimize sensory overload before it becomes overwhelming.

1. Get Plenty of Rest — Plan ahead, and consider taking a nap before the event, so you are refreshed when you arrive.

2. Make an Early Getaway Consider staying only a short while at the gathering. Let the host know beforehand so they know your intentions. Plan to rest afterwards.

3. Put Your Plan in Your Pocket Make a list of strategies that work and carry it with you, so you or a caregiver can refer to it at the event. Plan what you will do if things don’t go as expected.

4. Communicate Let family and friends know which stimuli are troublesome for you and what they can do to help. Be as specific as possible.

5. Avoid Crowds Sit towards the back or in a less crowded area from which you can exit early if necessary.

6. Channel Your Inner Zen Find peace through order. Hold conversations in quieter areas, such as a corner of the room. Ask people to please speak one at a time. 

7. Stay Hydrated The brain functions best when it is fully hydrated. Avoid dehydration by carrying a water bottle with you, refilling often.

8. Pretend the High School Principal is Watching Avoid nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol, as they often make sensory overload symptoms worse.

9. Block It Out Bring earplugs with you to use if it’s too noisy.

10. Prepare “Quiet” Food — Try to use bowls or plates for certain foods to reduce crunching sounds, such as eliminating those noisy chip bags.

11. Stay Away From Bright Lights Wear sunglasses or a hat with a brim, even indoors.

12. Limit Screen Time Reduce exposure to TV, phone, and computer screens that can cause headaches.

13. Eat Simple — Stick with known foods that don’t contain unusual textures or overly spicy flavors.

14. Stay Balanced Monitor your pain, stress, and fatigue levels.

15. Recharge Your Brain Take regular brain-recharging breaks, even if you’re feeling fine. Every hour or so, take a break to the car, a bathroom, a calm corner, or anywhere you can relax, close your eyes, and breathe deeply for a few minutes.

16. Remove yourself from the situation:

  • Go to a quieter place as soon as possible.
  • Close your eyes and take slow, deep breaths.
  • Put an icepack on your forehead or eyes.
  • Visualize a warm, secure, relaxing, happy, peaceful place or a happy memory.

If you are a caregiver of a survivor of stroke or brain injury, the best thing you can do is to be supportive. Ask your loved one or their clinician what seems to trigger sensory overload for them and actively try to create a social environment that is not overwhelming for them. When planning to attend social gatherings, keep in mind that heat, pain, and lack of sleep can intensify cognitive overload. Be understanding if they need to cut the outing short.

Additional references:

 

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16 Comments

  1. Kathryn McClatchy

    Thank you!
    As a young stroke survivor (I was 37 when I had my first), this is a real problem. And since I look “normal” most people assume I’m either depressed or attention-seeking when I have trouble in large crowds, big-box stores, even church. I tend to stay home alone a lot, and participate online whereever possible. I appreciate you helping spread the word.

    Reply
    • Constant Therapy

      You’re welcome. Thank you for taking the time to comment, Kathryn. We will continue to spread the word. Feel free to share this article with friends and family via email or social media if you think it would help.

      Reply
      • Donetta B Wareham

        Thank you for this reading.
        I am 56 years old. I suffered a TBI injury in 1999 and had a stroke 2 days later. That was my first stroke.
        I had 3 strokes in 2023; Feb, Jun uwent through breast cancer. Mastectomies, chemo and radiation.
        Possibly, or most likely contributing to brain fog, memory loss, anxiety, and total sensory overload.
        I returned to work, after 6 months off, this week, and I work in a call center.
        I’m on the phone, in an already noisy environment.
        I do have a brand new, noise cancelling, headphone set that works pretty good. It helps, but, I am finding myself extremely anxious and unable to concentrate.
        I am going to speak with my sup, and see if they will allow to work remote again, until I’m comfortable again around noise (and people).
        It was nice to read that I am experiencing normal behaviors.
        Thank you!

        Reply
  2. Lois Kinney

    Thank you for this! My husband had a stroke a year and a half ago and my son had a TBI 20 years ago. As a retired nurse, I know these things but this is a great reference and reminder!

    Reply
  3. Deborah Ham

    Stroke prevention strategies as well, I feel. If you’re at an age and health wise prone to stroke risk, these tips would be wise to consider

    Reply
    • Kelly Colvard

      While you “feel” these strategies are good for prevention for those at “an age and health wise prone to stroke risk,” your feelings and unspecified parameters for age/predisposition are well taken; however, inclusion is the safer bet when it comes to prevention.

      I was a healthy 43 y/o 2 years ago when I had a bithalamic hemorrhagic stroke secondary to HRT. I had a physical trainer and was in great shape. I suspect this is the only reason I am alive. My life, my husband’s life, and my teens’ lives will never be the same and it was not an issue of my age or a known stroke risk.

      It would be wise to consider healthy lifestyles as good tips for everyone based on what we know about A & P.

      These tips are outstanding. I only go to my kids’ theater performances and doctor’s appointments because the sensory input of outings results in distorted senses for a couple of days. The benefit has to outweigh the cost.

      Reply
      • Constant Therapy

        Hi Kelly, thank you so much for sharing your story. It really speaks to how strokes and TBIs can affect anyone. We’re so glad you find the tips helpful as you make memories with your family!

        Reply
  4. Amanda Loller

    This article explains so much. My stroke was in 2015, which for the most part, I thought only my memory was affected, I now know it was not the only aspect. I still have trouble with aphasia, swallowing certain things (sometimes just water) makes me choke, are just some of the difficulties I struggle with. Decision-making is one of the biggest headaches, when the dogs scratch themselves or when they are eating/drinking, the noise drives me insane. I am trying to finish my degree, I started years ago, and sometimes when typing something that I know, my hands just do not type what I see in my head. I try explaining this to people, for instance, I am trying to get my disability because I am unable to process most procedures, with no luck so far. But just like what the other comment on here said, because we look fine, people do not understand there is still a problem. I, too, stay home as much as possible, and even avoid people online/the phone.

    Reply
    • Constant Therapy

      Amy, glad it was helpful and made you feel seen. As mentioned to Kathryn- feel free to share it you think it would help family and friends to be more sympathetic with what you are experiencing.

      Reply
      • Mary King

        “It’s nice to know it’s not just me. I had a stroke in 2021. I was very lucky in that I had no obvious physical signs like mobility issues that I’d had it (actually they saw evidence of three previous strokes in the same area that I had no knowledge of.) I, too, look “OK”but I know I’m not the same as before. Memory issues, making decisions, fatigue, forgetfulness make me more dependent on help. I get stressed more easily and feel overwhelmed by people, loud noise, etc. I’d there are more sources of information, please post. Thanks! This article is very helpful.

        Reply
        • Constant Therapy

          Happy to hear that you found this post helpful. We made a note of your questions for future post ideas. Thank you!

          Reply
    • Kelly Colvard

      I see you and I appreciate you for sharing because I do often feel isolated in my post-stoke life. The hypersensitivity to noises is unbelievably disruptive to life. I also have significant intolerance to light and try to avoid direct light unless I am swimming – which is amazing PT. It gives me a center afterwards, FWIW. 🙂

      Reply
      • Constant Therapy

        We’re so glad to see these supportive comments and connections in this community! Even on the tough days, we are never alone in recovery.

        Reply
    • Donetta B Wareham

      Thanks for sharing. I too, now have trouble not only swallowing, but chewing certain foods since my last stroke. I didn’t put them together. Until now. Interesting.

      Reply
  5. Libby Aydelotte

    I suffered a Tbi in 2008, I spent 2 months in a coma. I have had no support from drs or family and have been left to deal with my anxiety and social withdrawals on my own. I look normal and like someone else had mentioned I have been accused of attention seeking. This article has really opened my eyes as to what is happening with me. I intend to post it on Facebook in hopes that someone might care enough to read it. Thank you!!

    Reply

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